Minutes
Thursday 15th May 2014
Craster Village Hall 7.15pm
Present
Vice Chairman
John Gallon.
Clerk
Helen Brewis.
Parish Council Members
Joyce Shaw, Elizabeth Pearson, Alan Punton, Michael Craster,
Margaret Brooks, Martin Smith & Pauline Baird.
In Attendance
Members of the public
Mrs M Taylor.
1669. Apologies for absence. Bryn Owen & CC John Taylor.
1670. Confirmation of minutes of last meeting. The April Minutes were accepted as
a true record.
1671. Parish Council Vacancy.
NALC have informed us
that the minimum number of Parish Councillors we can have is 5 &
there is no maximum, therefore we will continue to look to fill the
10th position.
1672. Craster Community Trust Matters. Currently the CCT are looking at
renewing the fencing & seating at the play park area.
1673. Parking in Craster.
The following is the
response received from NCC concerning the points raised by Marion
Gallon about the dangers pedestrians face when walking from Dunstan to
Craster:-
‘This
one needs an investigation into the various issues raised so we can
come up with some solutions. The way to address this is via the LTP
Programme, so the Parish Council should include it as one of their
transport priorities when invited to submit them. This is likely to be
June/July.’
The footpath from the phone
box in Dunstan which goes behind Smithy Court & onto the Bogue Road
is becoming very overgrown.
Action Point: Clerk
to contact NCC Footpath Officer & Joyce Shaw will speak to one of
the land’s owners. Proposed by Elizabeth Pearson & seconded by
Pauline Baird.
1674. Neighbourhood Plan. Ongoing.
1675. Embleton Joint Burial Committee.
On 1st May there was an
informal discussion held in Embleton involving Craster, Embleton &
Newton by the Sea Parish Councils. David Francis from NALC
attended to discuss
proposed Terms of Reference.
These proposed Terms of
Reference have been circulated & Bryn Owen & John Gallon have
concerns about the following points:-
1) No
provision for a substitute to attend a Burial Committee Meeting if both
nominated Parish Councillors are unable to attend. (If there was a
substitute named for each PC it would avoid one of the PCs not having a
voice at the Meeting or the additional problem of not having a quorum.)
2) No
provision in place for a prepared itemised budget circulated from the
Burial Committee so that the PCs can fully understand what they are
funding and can also raise concerns if projected spends appear to be
outside the limits that the PCs can spend without proper debate &
agreement.
3)
Financial - no section about the limit of expenditure the Burial
Committee can authorise on its own accord before referring the spend
for a decision from the 3 PCs.
Action Point:
John Gallon will create a paper terming these suggestions for the Clerk
to forward to the other parish councils.
1676. Matters arising from minutes of last meeting.
Dunstan Water Leak & Road Surface. NCC have been filling in a few potholes.
Heugh Wynd Grass Surfaces & Mud on Footpath.
NCC Streetscene Dept.
are looking into this problem.
White lines require re-doing on road into Craster.
These will be done by
NCC at the end of May.
John Gallon – Maintenance of fixed assets. Ongoing.
NCC – Fire & Rescue Plan 2014-17 consultation.
Martin Smith will point
out the problems of ambulances etc not being able to get through
Craster due to traffic problems.
B Owen – trees requiring pruning at entrance to village.
Stephen Ternent will
prune them.
B Owen – Footpath marker post by the arch pointing along the cinder
path is on the floor. NCC
Footpath Officer will look into this for us.
B Owen–Dog fouling on the rocky shore, south end of the kickabout
field. NCC Animal Welfare Officer
will step up patrols to try & catch the culprit.
NCC consultations on School transport. Ongoing.
1677. Planning Matters.
13/03499/FUL – Emblestone, South Acres extension.
There has been no
response from NCC concerning our complaint letter about our paperwork
not being circulated before the Planning Meeting which passed this
planning approval. John Gallon proposed raising a formal
complaint & seconded by Joyce Shaw.
Action Point: John Gallon will start
the complaint online.
14/00205/FUL–Proposed replacement dwelling on land at former 21 Whin
Hill.
Mr M Taylor is still
waiting for NCC Highways response.
NCC Training Session – the Basics of Planning (Northumberland Hall 23rd
April 6pm-8pm) Martin Smith was
unable to attend.
1678. Financial Matters.
Current Acc Balance
£ 4,109.71
Higher Interest
Acc
£18,000.00
Cheques required:
M Craster – Oak
tree
£ 54.56
Clerk - wages &
expenses
£227.10
HMRC
£
50.20
We have received a
donation receipt from CAN & a thank you note. The VAT
refund for £54.14 has been submitted.
1679. Correspondence received.
CAN News March 2014,Spring Conference 2014,Parish & Community News,
CAN donation & The Good Councillors Guide. In circulation.
Zurich Municipal Town & Parish Insurance quote request.
Action Point: Clerk to email Martin
Smith with a copy of the NCC insurance invoice & a copy of the
current insurance policy from NCC.
Percentage of Business Rates to be paid to Parish Councils (support
request).
Bryn Owen has emailed
them with our support as this would be very beneficial to Parish
Councils in reducing the precept amount by receiving a small percentage
of the annual business rates. Bryn has also emailed Alan Beith for his
support.
NCC – Town & Parish Council Website Questionnaire.
The questionnaire asking
for a response via website which limits the amount of Parish
Councillors who can respond & also a short time limit so it can’t
be properly discussed at a Parish Council Meeting.
Action Point: A complaint letter
has been created from our Chairman & circulated. John Gallon
proposed sending the letter to Iain Hedley Locality Development Officer
& Barry Armstrong Executive Director – Place at NCC by recorded
delivery & seconded by Michael Craster.
June’s Parish Council Meeting.
Action Point: Next month’s meeting
will start at 6pm.
The
next Meeting will be on Thursday 19th June 2014.
|
